164 | Building a Multi-Faceted Creative Business with Amber Kemp-Gerstel, Damask Love

Hey friends! Have you ever wondered what it might be like to turn your hobby into a business? That’s exactly what today’s guest, Amber Kemp-Gerstel did and today she came on to talk about her journey in the crafting industry.

Amber is a powerhouse. Not only does she have a blog called Damask Love but she also runs YayDay Paper Co., selling digital products and leveraging a subscription model. You might recognize her from NBC’s TV show, Making It (she was a finalist in 2018) or from being the host of Disney Family Sundays on Disney+.

In this episode, she talks about how she got into her business and how she was able to start working with big brands in the industry. She shares some tips for how she sends pitches and why you have to make it really easy for people to say, ‘yes!’

We also talk about why representation matters and how the creative community can step up to uplift other artists, crafters and makers of color. This is very important work that we’re taking seriously at Proof to Product and I appreciated her for sharing her thoughts and opinions about how we can take steps forward with grace (even though we may make mistakes along the way).

ON TODAY’S EPISODE:

How Amber went from working in family and child psychology to being a strong force in the crafting world
The lightbulb moment where she realized it was time to quit her job
How she got into working with brands like JoAnn Fabrics and Martha Stewart Living
What Amber includes in pitches she sends to brands
Why you should make it simple for people to say “yes” to you
Why she decided to do a business model built off of digital products and leveraging a subscription model
Her tips for marketing your products to your audience
How Amber makes her voice heard despite the lack of diversity and visibility for women of color in the crafting space
Why representation is needed in every industry
Why you should do the things you can practically do to better the community for everyone
What Amber is working on right now in her businesses

Download These Quotables to Save and Share

KEY TAKE AWAYS

“Every piece of what I do now was started as a hobby, with no intention of making it a job.” - Amber Kemp-Gerstel

“I think once you start having a presence and showing that you do sponsored content, that companies work with you in that way, then that brings in more of that. “ - Amber Kemp-Gerstel

“If they pitch me and it's more of a loose like, ‘Well let's work together and I kind of have this background,’ it's not a hell yes at that point.” - Katie Hunt

“Digital is a way that I can get this to people.” - Amber Kemp-Gerstel

“It's all about scaling.” - Amber Kemp-Gerstel

“This is a hustle every single day to educate people and get people to understand how this works.” - Amber Kemp-Gerstel

“I really believe that people buy stories before they buy products. They buy personal experiences, they buy a why rather than a what.” - Amber Kemp-Gerstel

“I'm always making sure that I honor and value the customer and make her be hero of whatever inspired me to start the story to begin with.” - Amber Kemp-Gerstel

“You may have provided something for them, but they took it that extra mile.” - Katie Hunt

“That I think is when you really start to see your business change and grow, is when people feel like they belong to a community rather than they're just... it's just transactional.” - Amber Kemp-Gerstel

“We should all see ourselves in every industry.” - Amber Kemp-Gerstel

“We are in the season of being uncomfortable.” - Amber Kemp-Gerstel

MEET AMBER:

Amber Kemp-Gerstel is the founder and creative director of Damask Love a creative lifestyle blog all about doable DIY. Damask Love has partnered with brands like Martha Stewart, Home Depot, The Container Store, Coca-Cola, Canon and is the social media face of JOANN Fabric and Craft Stores. She has been featured on Huffington Post, Buzzfeed, Apartment Therapy and in Better Homes and Gardens Magazine. Damask Love was named one of the Top 17 DIY Blogs by Domino Magazine and Top 10 DIY blogs by Better Homes and Garden's Magazine. In 2018 Amber Kemp-Gerstel was a finalist in NBC’s Making It - a crafting competition show hosted by SNL’s Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman – otherwise known as Ron Swanson from Park’s and Recreation. Amber has been featured on the cover of Parents Magazine you can find Amber on Disney+ as the host of their new, original show Disney Family Sundays. You can also find Damask Love products at Office Depot and JOANN Fabric and Craft Stores or take a dive on the creative side with her newest venture YayDay Paper Company - a digital subscription service offering delightfully designed stationery, craft projects and planner goodies that you can print from home.

CONNECT WITH AMBER

Blog: damasklove.com | Website: yaydaypaper.com | Facebook: @DamaskLove | Instagram: @damasklove + @yaydaypaper

Connect with Katie Hunt

Katie Hunt is a business strategist, podcaster, mentor and mama to four. She helps product based businesses build profitable, sustainable companies through her conferences, courses and coaching programs.

Website: prooftoproduct.com | Instagram: @prooftoproduct